PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: No prior approved or experimental biologic therapy for NSCLC Chemotherapy: No prior approved or experimental chemotherapy for NSCLC Endocrine therapy: Not specified Radiotherapy: See Disease Characteristics At least 2 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered No prior radiotherapy to indicator lesion(s) unless an increase in lesion size occurred after completion of radiotherapy Concurrent localized palliative therapy allowed if pre-approved by sponsor Surgery: See Disease Characteristics Other: At least 30 days since prior participation in other investigational study No other concurrent therapy for NSCLC No other concurrent experimental drugs or anticancer therapy during active treatment of study